The Vatican Information Service is a news service, founded in the Holy See Press Office, that provides information about the Magisterium and the pastoral activities of the Holy Father and the Roman Curia...[+]

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Monday, February 29, 2016

Vatican City, 29 February 2016 (VIS) –
This morning, Pope Francis welcomed His Holiness Abune Mathias,
Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church. During the
meeting the Bishop of Rome emphasized that the patriarch's visit
strengthens the fraternal bonds that already unite both churches. He
mentioned as milestones of the common path towards unity His Holiness
Abune Paulos' encounters with St. John Paul II in 1993 and with
Benedict XVI in 2009, who invited him to participate in the Synod of
Bishops for Africa as was common practice in the early Church for
representatives to be sent to the synods of other Churches. Likewise,
a delegation from the Holy See was present at the 2012 funeral of
Patriarch Abune Paulos.

Moreover, as Francis explained, since
2004 the Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Churches have
deepened their communion through theological dialogue in the
International Joint Commission, which over the years has analysed the
fundamental concept of the Churches' communion understood as
participation in the communion between Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Many things have been found in common: one faith, one baptism, one
Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and many elements of the monastic
traditions and the liturgy. "What unites us," the Pope
said, "is greater than what divides us."

He continued, "We truly feel that
the words of the Apostle Paul apply to us: 'If one member suffers,
all suffer together; if one member is honoured, all rejoice
together.' Shared sufferings have enabled Christians, otherwise
divided in so many ways, to grow closer to one another. Just as in
the early Church the shedding of the blood of martyrs became the seed
of new Christians, so today the blood of the many martyrs of all the
Churches has become the seed of Christian unity. The martyrs and
saints of all the ecclesial traditions are already one in Christ.
Their names are inscribed in the one martyrologium of the Church of
God. The ecumenism of the martyrs is a summons to us, here and now,
to advance on the path to ever greater unity."

The Pope recalled that the Orthodox
Tewahedo Church has been, from the beginning, a Church of martyrs and
that still today "you are witnessing a devastating outbreak of
violence against Christians and other minorities in the Middle East
and in some parts of Africa. We cannot fail, yet again, to implore
those who govern the world’s political and economic life to promote
a peaceful coexistence based on reciprocal respect and
reconciliation, mutual forgiveness and solidarity." He also
acknowledged the great strides being made in Ethiopia "to
improve the living conditions of its people and to build an ever more
just society, based on the rule of law and respect for the role of
women". In particular, he noted the problem of access to water,
with its grave social and economic repercussions. "There is
great room for cooperation between the Churches in the service of the
common good and the protection of creation," he stated, certain
of "the readiness of the Catholic Church in Ethiopia to work
together with the Orthodox Tewahedo Church".

"it is my fervent hope that this
meeting will mark a new chapter of fraternal friendship between our
Churches. We are conscious that history has left us with a burden of
painful misunderstandings and mistrust, and for this we seek God’s
pardon and healing. Let us pray for one another," the pontiff
concluded, "invoking the protection of the martyrs and saints
upon all the faithful entrusted to our pastoral care. May the Holy
Spirit continue to enlighten us and guide our steps towards harmony
and peace. May he nourish in us the hope that one day, with God’s
help, we will be united around the altar of Christ’s sacrifice in
the fullness of Eucharistic communion."

Vatican City, 29 February 2016 (VIS) –
One hundred and fifty members of the Rome-St. Peter's Carabinieri
Squad who work with the competent bodies of the Holy See to regulate
events in and around St. Peter's Square throughout the year were
received by Pope Francis in the Clementine Hall of the Vatican this
morning. The pontiff thanked them for their work in service of
pilgrims and tourists, noting that it is work that "requires
professionalism and a sense of responsibility as well as attention to
people---many of whom are elderly---continuous patience and
availability to all. These are not easy qualities, which is why it is
important to rely on God's help."

"The Holy Year of Mercy," he
continued, "opens the possibility of renewal to all of us,
beginning with inner purification, which is reflected in how we act
and in how we carry out our daily activities. This spiritual
dimension of the Jubilee compels each of us to question our actual
commitment in responding to the demands of faithfulness to the Gospel
to which the Lord calls us from our state in life. The Jubilee thus
becomes a propitious occasion for personal and community
verification. The 'paradigm' to test ourselves against are works of
mercy, both corporal and spiritual. The Lord reminds us: 'Whatever
you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.'"

"May this teaching of Jesus also
guide you, who are responsible for the protection of public order,
and help you to foster solidarity in every circumstance, especially
towards the weak and defenceless. To be guardians of the right to
life through the commitment to safety and the safety of persons. In
carrying out this mission, may we always be aware that every person
is loved by God and is his creature deserving of welcome and respect.
May the grace of the extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy," the Pope
concluded his brief address, "renew the spirit which you
dedicate to your profession, bringing you to live it with extra
attention, devotion, and generosity.

Vatican City, 29 February 2016 (VIS) -
The Holy Father's universal prayer intention for February is: “That
families in need may receive the necessary support and that children
may grow up in healthy and peaceful environments”.

His intention for evangelisation is:
“That those Christians who, on account of their faith, are
discriminated against or are being persecuted, may remain strong and
faithful to the Gospel, thanks to the incessant prayer of the
Church".

Vatican City, 29 February 2016 (VIS) –
The Office of Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff has
published the following calendar of liturgical celebrations at which
the Holy Father will preside in the months of March and April 2016:

MARCH

Friday 4: At 5 p.m. in the Vatican
Basilica, penitential celebration.

Sunday 6: Fourth Sunday of Lent. In
Ariccia, beginning of the spiritual exercises for the Roman Curia.

Friday 11: Conclusion of the spiritual
exercises for the Roman Curia.

Tuesday 15: At 10 a.m. in the
Consistory Hall, consistory for causes of canonisation.

Sunday 20: Palm Sunday and the Passion
of the Lord. At 9.30 a.m. in St. Peter's Square, blessing of the
palms, procession and Holy Mass.

Vatican City, 28 February 2016 (VIS) –
"Every day, unfortunately, bad news is reported: murders,
accidents, disasters, … In today's Gospel passage Jesus refers to
two tragic events, which at the time caused quite a stir: the bloody
crackdown by Roman soldiers inside the temple and the collapse of the
tower of Siloam in Jerusalem, which claimed eighteen victims."
These are the words that Pope Francis started with this afternoon
before the Angelus, relating our current lived experience to the
Gospel of the day. "Jesus knows the superstitious mentality of
his listeners," he continued, "and knows that they
interpret those kinds of events wrongly. In fact, they think that, if
those persons died so cruelly, it's a sign that God has punished them
for some grave offence they had committed, as if to say 'They
deserved it.' And the fact that they had been spared from the
disaster was equivalent to being 'okay'. They 'deserved it' but I 'am
good'.

The Pope explained that "Jesus
clearly rejects this view because God does not allow tragedies in
order to punish sins. He affirms that those poor victims were not
worse than others. Rather, he invites us to draw a warning from such
painful events, a warning for all because we are all sinners. He said
to those who are asking him: 'If you do not repent, you will all
perish as they did!' Even today, in the face of certain misfortunes
and tragic events, we might feel the temptation to 'dump' the
responsibility onto the victims or even onto God himself. But the
Gospel invites us to reflect: what is our idea of God? Are we
convinced that God is this way or is it not just our own projection,
a god made 'in our image and likeness'? In contrast, Jesus calls us
to a change of heart, to make a radical change in our life's path,
abandoning the pacts with evil – and we all do this, make pacts
with evil, hypocrisy, I believe that we all have at least one piece
of hypocrisy – to decisively take the Gospel path".

"But here again is the temptation
to justify ourselves: 'What should we convert from? Aren't we all
basically good people?' How many times have we thought that: 'All in
all, I'm a pretty good person?' – haven't we? – 'Aren't we
believers, who even practice enough?' And we think, therefore, that
we are justified". The Pope stressed that we justify ourselves
as believers and even practising ones. Unfortunately, each of us
looks a lot like a tree that, for years, has given much evidence of
sterility. But luckily for us, Jesus is like the peasant farmer who,
with limitless patience, still gives another deferment to the barren
fig tree. 'Leave it for this year,' he says to the master. 'It may
bear fruit in the future'".

"A 'year' of grace", he
continued, "the time of Christ's ministry, the time of the
Church before his glorious return, the time of our life punctuated by
a number of Lents, which are offered to us as opportunities for
repentance and salvation, the time of a Jubilee Year of Mercy. Jesus'
invincible patience. Have you thought on God's patience? Have you
thought about his unyielding concern for sinners as they should
provoke impatience in how we see ourselves! It is never to late for
us to convert, never! God's patience waits for us up till the last
minute. Remember the the story of St. Therese of the Child Jesus when
she prayed for the man condemned to death, a criminal, who did not
want to receive the comfort of the Church. He declined a priest's
visit, didn't want it. He wanted to die that way. And she prayed, in
the convent. And exactly at the moment of his execution he turned to
the priest, took the crucifix and kissed it. God's patience! He does
the same with us, with all of us! How many times – we don't know.
We will know in Heaven – how many times we are there [about to
fall] and the Lord saves us. He saves us because he has great
patience with us. And this is his mercy. It is never too late to
repent but it is urgent, the time is now. Let us begin today".

Before finishing, Pope Francis called
upon the Virgin Mary "to sustain us so that we may open our
hearts to God's grace, to his mercy. And help us to never judge
others but to let daily misfortunes be the opportunity to make a
serious examination of conscience and repent".

Vatican City, 28 February 2016 (VIS) –
Greeting the faithful after the Marian prayer, the Holy Father again
noted the tragedy of those fleeing wars, emphasising that countries
like Greece "on the front lines are giving generous aid, which
requires the cooperation of all nations. A unified response can be
effective and distribute the weight evenly. This is why we need to
focus firmly and unreservedly on negotiations".

"At the same time." he added,
"I have hopefully welcomed the news about the cessation of
hostilities in Syria and I invite all to pray so that this window of
opportunity can give relief to those suffering , encouraging the
necessary humanitarian aid and opening the way to dialogue and a much
desired peace".

Pope Francis also expressed his
nearness to the people of Fiji, hard hit by a devastating cyclone. "I
pray for the victims and for those who are committed to relief
operations". Before leaving, the pontiff recalled that today
marks "Rare Disease Day" and directed his special prayers
and encouragement to all associations that offer help in this area.

Vatican City, 27 February 2016 (VIS) -
This morning in the Vatican Apostolic Palace, Pope Francis received
in audience Mauricio Macri, president of the Argentine Republic, who
subsequently met with Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin,
accompanied by Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, secretary for
Relations with States.

During the cordial discussions, which
demonstrated the good bilateral relations between the Holy See and
the Argentine Republic, themes of common interest were considered,
such as assistance for integral development, respect for human
rights, the fight against poverty and drug trafficking, justice,
peace and social reconciliation. In this context, the positive
contribution of the episcopate and Catholic institutions in Argentine
society was reiterated, especially in the fields of human promotion
and the formation of the new generations, and particularly in the
current economic climate.

Finally, reference was made to various
issues of broader significance and interest at regional and global
levels.

Vatican City, 27 February 2016 (VIS) –
This morning in the Paul VI Hall Pope Francis received in audience
seven thousand Italian members of Confindustria (the General
Confederation of Italian Industry). It was the first encounter in the
Vatican in the history of the association, and took place within the
context of the Jubilee Year of Mercy. The Holy Father observed that
with this meeting, the men and women of Italian business confirm
their commitment to contributing to a more just society, to
reflecting together on the ethics of business, and to strengthening
their attention to values, the "spinal column" of projects
that offer a concrete alternative to the consumerist model of profit
at any cost.

The theme "working together"
inspires collaboration, sharing and preparing the way for relations
regulated by a sense of joint responsibility. "In the complex
world of business, working together means investing in projects able
to involve those who are often forgotten or neglected, especially
families. … And, alongside them, we cannot forget the weakest and
most marginalised categories, such as the elderly, who may still have
the resources and energy for active collaboration, but are too often
discarded as useless and unproductive. Then there are potential
workers, especially the young who, imprisoned by uncertainty or long
periods of unemployment, do not receive offers of work providing them
with not only an honest salary but also the dignity that they are
often deprived of".

Working together means "basing
work not on the solitary genius of an individual, but on the
collaboration of many. It means, in other words, building a network
to bring to the fore the gifts of all, without however neglecting the
unique qualities of each person. At the centre of every business,
therefore, is the person: not abstract, ideal or theoretical, but a
real person with dreams, needs, hopes and hardships. … Faced with
the many barriers of injustice, solitude, distrust and suspicion that
continue to be built in our times, the world of work, in which you
are on the front line, is required to take courageous steps so that
encountering each other and working together is not merely a slogan,
but rather a plan for the present and the future".

The Holy Father reminded those present
of their "noble vocation, directed to producing wealth and
improving our world", for which they are called to be builders
of the common good and promoters of a "new humanism of work".

"You are called to safeguard
professionalism, and at the same time to pay attention to the
conditions in which work is carried out", he said. "May you
always be guided by justice, which refuses the shortcuts of
favouritism, and the dangerous deviations of dishonesty and easy
compromise. May the supreme law always be attention to the dignity of
others, an absolute and indispensable value. May this aim of altruism
always distinguish your work: it will lead you to refuse
categorically the infringement of the dignity of the person in the
name of productive demands, which mask individualistic
short-sightedness, sad selfishness and thirst for profit".

The Pope concluded by urging the
members of Confindustria to represent, instead, a business open to
the "broader meaning of life", allowing them "truly to
serve the common good, by striving to increase the goods of this
world and to make them more accessible to all", so that it is
"not insensitive to the gaze of those in need. This is truly
possible, provided that the simple proclamation of economic freedom
does not prevail over the real freedom of man and his rights, that
the market is not absolute, but rather honours the needs of justice
and, in the final analysis, of the dignity of the person. There is no
freedom without justice and no justice without respect for the
dignity of every person".

Vatican City, 27 February 2016 (VIS) –
Yesterday afternoon the Pope paid a surprise visit to the San Carlo
rehabilitation centre, near Castel Gandolfo, which belongs to the
Italian Solidarity Centre, founded by Fr. Mario Picchi to prevent and
combat exclusion, especially of those affected by drug abuse. The
visit forms part of the Holy Father's "Friday of mercy"
programme, in which he performs one of the corporal or spiritual
works of mercy every Friday throughout the Jubilee Year of Mercy.

The San Carlo Community houses 55
people, mostly young, following a rehabilitation programme to free
themselves from drug dependency. Francis' visit was unannounced and
was a great surprise to all present. He spoke to the guests and
staff, listened to their stories and expressed his closeness, urging
them not to let themselves be devoured by the "metastasis"
of drugs. He embraced them and explained that the path they have
undertaken in the centre will offer them a real possibility of
starting a new life worthy of a human being. Francis emphasised the
need always to trust in the strength of mercy that continues to
sustain our pilgrimage and, accompanying us even in our darkest
hours, lets us feel the warmth of His presence and clothes man in
dignity.

Archbishop Rino Fisichella, president
of the Pontifical Council for Promoting New Evangelisation, linked
this "Friday of Mercy" to the Pope's recent trip to Mexico,
characterised by his strong and unequivocal condemnation of drug
trafficking. "It worries me greatly that, seduced by the empty
power of the world, they exalt chimeras and don their macabre symbols
to trade in death. … I implore you not to underestimate the ethical
and anti-civic challenge that drug trafficking represents for young
people and for society as a whole, including the Church", said
Francis during the trip.

Just a few days after his return to
Rome, added Archbishop Fisichella, the Pope has given a visible and
concrete sign of the affirmation he made in the Cathedral of Mexico
City regarding the need for pastors of the Church not to seek refuge
in generic condemnations, but rather to reach out to the human and
existential peripheries of the cities and to involve families,
schools, institutions, the political community and the forces of
order in a serious pastoral project aiming at the prevention of a
phenomenon that destroys many lives.

Vatican City, 29 February 2016 (VIS) –
Today marks the IX World Day of Rare Diseases. On the occasion,
Archbishop Zygmunt Zimowski, president of the Pontifical Council for
Health Care Workers (for Health Pastoral Care) wrote a message
entitled "The Patient's Voice at the Centre. Join Us in Making
the Voice of Rare Diseases Heard". It emphasises how, for years,
this dicastery has closely followed the various initiatives for those
affected by such diseases, as well as focusing on their families, who
are sometimes the only ones who give voice to a problem that should
not be ignored by the various civil, scientific, and pastoral
agencies.

"This global initiative", the
prelate explained, "which aims to give proper emphasis to these
diseases and to increase knowledge, also finds growing interest in
the Church, so that those who, although suffering from diseases whose
incidence is minimal or rare numerically, are not abandoned or
isolated. They certainly cannot leave us indifferent. Indeed, their
condition, as the theme chosen for this 9th day indicates, cannot but
find echo in our hearts and in appropriate research and care".

"In particular", he
specified, "this means making these persons more and more the
protagonists, equipped with the necessary reference points and, at
the same time, raising the awareness of the competent authorities,
health professionals, pharmaceutical industry, and anyone who has a
sincere interest in rare diseases. All in order to break the curtain
of silence or exclusivity that is likely, in many cases, to hide a
problem that, however, concerns the whole of society".

"The Church also feels involved in
this commitment, constantly spurred by Pope Francis to grow and walk
in solidarity. … By means of this dicastery, the Church, as the
voice that can from many places have the leverage to achieve the
common good and justice in the social and health care field, intends
to bring the attention of its pastoral outreach in the area of rare
and neglected diseases – defined as diseases that particularly call
for solidarity – to this area and to the various scientific
research institutions".

"This ecclesial attention will
have a specific expression at the next international conference
organized by the Pontifical Council for Health Care Workers, which
will take place at the Vatican from 10 to 12 November, 2016. This
initiative, almost at the conclusion of the Extraordinary Jubilee of
Mercy, will be a further occasion for highlighting the work of
corporal mercy that is assistance to the sick. It will be a sign of
solidarity with persons affected by rare diseases as well as with the
poor and vulnerable populations marked by neglected diseases, who
usually live in the most remote rural areas of the world".

- Cardinal Francesco Monterisi,
archpriest emeritus of the Papal Basilica of St. Paul
Outside-the-Walls, as his special envoy to the concluding celebration
of the Innocentian Year, commemorating the fourth centenary of the
birth of Pope Innocent XII, to be held in Spinazzola, Italy on 13
March.

- Msgr. Maurizio Bravi, nunciature
counsellor, as Holy See Permanent Observer at the World Tourism
Organisation.

Vatican City, 29 February 2016 (VIS) –
From tomorrow, Tuesday 1 March 2016, the Vatican Information Service
newsletter will not be transmitted. Below is the link via which the
web page including a synthesis in English of the official Holy See
Press Office Bulletin may be consulted.

Friday, February 26, 2016

Vatican City, 26 February 2016 (VIS)
"The message of the Encyclical Deus Caritas Est remains timely,
indicating the ever relevant prospect for the Church’s journey. The
more we live in this spirit, the more authentic we all are as
Christians", said Pope Francis this morning as he received in
audience in the Clementine Hall the participants in the two-day
international congress "Love will never end: Prospects ten years
on from the Encyclical Deus Caritas Est", organised by the
Pontifical Council "Cor Unum", which analysed the
theological and pastoral repercussions and prospects opened by Pope
Benedict XVI's first encyclical.

The text, said Francis, "concerns
a theme that allows us to retrace the entire history of the Church,
which is also a history of charity. It is a story of the love
received from God, to be carried to the world: this charity received
and given is the fulcrum of the history of the Church and of the
history of each one of us. ... Both for individual members of the
faithful and for the Christian community as a whole, the words of
Jesus hold true: that charity is the first and greatest of the
commandments: 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,
and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your
strength… You shall love your neighbour as yourself'".

The present Jubilee Year, continued the
Holy Father, "is also an opportunity to return to this beating
heart of our life and our witness, to the centre of the proclamation
of faith: 'God is love'. God does not simply have the desire or
capacity to love; God is love: charity is His essence, it is His
nature. He is unique, but not solitary; ... He cannot be closed in on
Himself because He is communion, He is charity; and charity by its
nature is communicated and shared. In this way, God associates man to
His life of love, and even if man turns away from Him, God does not
remain distant but goes out to meet him. This going out to meet us,
culminating in the Incarnation of His Son, is His mercy. It is His
way of expressing Himself to us sinners, His face that looks at us
and cares for us. The encyclical reads: 'Jesus’ programme is a
heart which sees. This heart sees where love is needed and acts
accordingly'. Charity and mercy are in this way closely related,
because they are God’s way of being and acting: His identity and
His name".

The first aspect which the Encyclical
recalls for us is the face of God: "who is the God we can
encounter in Christ? How faithful and unsurpassable is His love? …
All our expressions of love, of solidarity, of sharing are but a
reflection of that love which is God. He, without ever tiring, pours
out His love on us, and we are called to become witnesses to this
love in the world. Therefore, we should look to divine charity as to
the compass which orients our lives, before embarking on any
activity: there we find direction; from charity we learn how to see
our brothers and sisters and the world".

Pope Francis also referred to a second
aspect of the Encyclical – the need for charity to be increasingly
reflected in the life of the Church. "How I wish that everyone
in the Church, every institution, every activity would show that God
loves man!", he exclaimed. "The mission that our charitable
organisations carry out is important, because they provide so many
poor people with a more dignified and human life, which is needed
more than ever. But this mission is of utmost importance because, not
with words, but with concrete love it can make every person feel
loved by the Father, loved as His son or daughter and destined for
eternal life with Him".

"I would like to thank all those
who daily are committing themselves to this mission which challenges
every Christian", he concluded. "In this Jubilee Year, my
intention has been to emphasise that we can all experience the grace
of the Jubilee by putting into practice the spiritual and corporal
works of mercy: to live the works of mercy means to conjugate the
verb 'to love' according to Jesus. In this way then, all of us
together can contribute concretely to the great mission of the
Church: to communicate the love of God which is meant to be spread".

Thursday, February 25, 2016

Vatican City, 25 February 2016 (VIS) –
"L'amore prima del mondo" ("Love before the world")
is the title of a book published by Rizzoli, in the form of 31
letters and drawings sent to the Holy Father by children from various
Jesuit institutions from all five continents, asking for advice and
explanations, and Francis' replies.

The title is drawn from the Pope's
answer to the question, "What did God do before the world was
made?". The eighty pages of the volume consist of a dialogue
between Francis and the Jesuit Fr. Antonio Spadaro, director of La
Civilta Cattolica, who took the children's letters and drawings the
Domus Sanctae Marthae last summer and to ask for a response. The Pope
accepted the proposal and the resulting book has been released in
Italian bookshops today. It will shortly be available in other
languages.

Francis answers questions on a wide
variety of issues, such as how Jesus managed to walk on water: "God
doesn't sink", and why He created us if He knew we were going to
sin against Him: Because God created us like Him. Free. And being
free includes the possibility of sinning. … Freedom can be
frightening because it cannot be planned. But it is beautiful and it
is the greatest gift". In response to questions from the
youngest children regarding the devil and guardian angels, the Pope
recalls the importance of liturgy of prayer, or evokes the fantastic
imagination of the young: "God defeated the devil on the cross.
The devil is like the big scary dragons who are defeated and killed.
They have a very long tail which, even if they are beaten and killed,
continues to move".

There are also questions regarding war
and atrocities; for instance, a child from Nigeria asks how these
conflicts could be resolved. "It is necessary to encourage
people of good will to speak against war. I cannot solve the
conflicts in the world, but you and I can try to make this a better
world. We need to convince everyone that the best way to win a war is
not to enter into one. It is not easy, I know. But I try. You can try
too".

A child from China wants to know why
the Pope likes football. "I have never learned well the
techniques of the game", admits Francis. "I don't have
agile feet. But I like to see the team on the field because it is a
game of solidarity". In response to a boy from the United
Kingdom asks, "What was your hardest choice in your mission for
faith?", the Holy Father replies, "There are many hard
choices, but I have to say that the type of decision that is most
difficult for me is to remove someone from a responsible job or a
position of trust, or a path they are following, for reasons of
unsuitability".

Vatican City, 25 February 2016 (VIS) –
On Monday, 29 February, the Holy Father Francis will meet with His
Holiness Abuna Mathias, Patriarch of the Orthodox Tewahedo Church of
Ethiopia, who will be present in Rome from Friday 26 to Monday 29.
During his stay the Patriarch will visit the Pontifical Council for
Promoting Christian Unity and the tomb of the apostle Peter, and will
celebrate Holy Mass with the Ethiopian community of Rome on Sunday 28
February in the chapel of the Urbanian College.

The Orthodox Tewahedo Church of
Ethiopia currently consists of 35 million faithful, and a large
community exists in Rome. It enjoys cordial and increasingly close
relations with the Catholic Church, especially following the first
visit in 1993 of the then-Patriarch Abuna Paulos to Pope John Paul
II.

Vatican City, 25 February 2016 (VIS) –
The international conference "The religious and migrations in
the 21st century: perspectives, response and challenges",
organised by the representation before the United Nations of the
Passionists International, the Congregation of St. Joseph,
Augustinians International and the Vincentians, yesterday concluded
two days of intense work.

The aim of the meeting, attended by
around a hundred men and women religious, as well as laypersons and
experts in the sector, was to understand more fully the phenomenon of
migration and its repercussions in today's world, especially in the
context of the current European situation. It also considered the
identification of more effective and shared forms of solidarity. A
strong appeal was launched for intensified network-building among
congregations, associations and other organisations in countries of
origin, transit and destination. The network represents one of the
most efficient ways of using energy, skills and resources, to give
greater impetus to the already extraordinary work that these entities
carry out. In Italy alone, some 23 million people (almost a quarter
of the refugees present in the country) are received by parishes,
religious communities, monasteries and sanctuaries.

The participants expressed major
concerns regarding the large number of often unaccompanied minors
involved in migratory flows, as well as the many young women,
especially from Nigeria (more than four thousand in 2015) who risk
falling into the trap of exploitation and prostitution.

Fr. Emela Xris Obiezu, representative
of Augustinians International before the United Nations, emphasised
that "In this complex world, and faced with the challenge of
migration, it is increasingly necessary to think globally and act
locally, also in terms of lobbying and advocacy, to take the voice of
the victims and those who work alongside them to every level of
attention, from local administrations to the United Nations, so as to
influence working decisions, always placing at the centre of
attention the person and respect for his or her freedom and dignity".

Vatican City, 25 February 2016 (VIS) –
From Tuesday 1 March 2016, the Vatican Information Service newsletter
will not be transmitted, but subscribers will instead receive a link
via which they may consult the web page including a synthesis in
English of the official Holy See Press Office Bulletin, the summary
hitherto provided by the Vatican Information Service.

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

Vatican City, 24 February 2016 (VIS) –
Mercy and power were the theme of Pope Francis' catechesis in this
week's Wednesday general audience in St. Peter's Square, attended by
more than twenty thousand faithful and pilgrims.

The Holy Father explained that various
passages of the Bible speak about kings and men of power, and also of
their arrogance and abuses, demonstrating that "wealth and power
can be good and useful for the common good if placed at the service
of the poor and of all, with justice and charity. However if, as
often occurs, if lived as a privilege, with selfishness and
arrogance, they become tools of corruption and death".

An example of this unjust privilege is
found in the account of the vineyard of Naboth. The king Ahab wishes
to acquire it since it was situated adjacent to the royal palace, but
Naboth refuses since for Israel the land is God's, and receives His
blessing which is handed from generation to generation. Ahab is
indignant at receiving this refusal, which he perceives as an offence
to his power, undermining his authority. His wife, Jezebel, which
also considered royal power to be absolute, decides to eliminate
Naboth and makes false witnesses accuse him before the elders and the
authorities of having blasphemed and spoken ill of the king, crimes
which carried the death penalty. Naboth was executed and the king
inherited his vineyard.

"Recalling these events, Jesus
tells us: 'You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over
them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not
be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your
servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave'. If
the dimension of service is lost, power transforms into arrogance and
oppression". The story of Naboth, continued the Pope, "is
not a story of other times; it is also the story of today, of the
powerful who exploit the poor, exploit the people, to have more
money. It is the story of human trafficking, of slave labour, of poor
people who work illegally and with the minimum salary to enrich the
powerful. It is the story of corrupt politicians who want more and
more".

The episode of Naboth's vineyard
teaches us "where the exercise of authority without respect for
life or justice and without mercy leads us. And here we see where the
thirst for power leads: it becomes avarice, the desire to possess
everything". Francis gave the example of the words of the
prophet Isaiah, "who was not a communist", when he observed
the avidity of the rich landowners who sought to acquire more and
more houses and land. "Woe to those who join house to house, who
add field to field, until there is no more room, and you are made to
dwell alone in the midst of the land".

However, "God is greater than
evil, and the dirty games human beings play, and in His mercy He
sends the prophet Elijah to help Ahab convert. The king, faced with
his sin, is humbled and asks for forgiveness. How good it would be if
today's powerful exploiters were to do likewise!", exclaimed
Francis. "The Lord accepts his penance, but an innocent man was
killed and this inevitably has consequences. Indeed, the evil
committed leaves painful traces, and the history of mankind bears the
scars".

In this case too, mercy shows the path
to follow as it is able to cure wounds and change history. "Divine
mercy is stronger than the sin of men. It is stronger, this is the
example of Ahab! We know its power, when we remember the coming of
the Innocent Son of God Who made Himself man to destroy evil with His
forgiveness. Jesus Christ is the true king, but His power is
completely different. His throne is the cross. He is not a king who
kills, but on the contrary gives His life. His approach to all,
especially the weakest, defeats solitude and the destiny of death
that sin leads to. Jesus Christ, with His closeness and tenderness,
leads sinners into the space of grace and forgiveness. And this is
God's mercy".

Vatican City, 24 February 2016 (VIS) –
Yesterday afternoon the Holy Father received in audience Cardinal
Reinhard Marx, archbishop of Munchen und Freising, Germany,
coordinator of the Council for the Economy.

Vatican City, 24 February 2016 (VIS) –
The Holy Father has appointed Msgr. Zenildo Luiz Pereira da Silva,
C.SS.R., as prelate coadjutor bishop of Borba (area 98,650,
population 157,900, Catholics 127,600, priests 11, religious 15),
Brazil. The bishop-elect was born in Linhares, Brazil in 1968, gave
his religious vows in 1997 and was ordained a priest in 2001. He has
served as parish priest and superior of the Redemptorist
vice-province of Amazonia, and is currently parish priest of the
cathedral of "Santana e Sao Sebastiao" in the diocese of
Coari.

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Vatican City, 23 February 2016 (VIS) –
This morning Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, president of the Pontifical
Council for Culture and the Pontifical Commission for Sacred
Archaeology, along with Mehriban Aliyeva, president of the Heydar
Aliyev Foundation (HAF), Azerbaijan, presented the results of the
restoration of the Roman catacombs of Sts. Marcellinus and Peter "ad
duas lauros", entirely funded by the HAF.

On the basis of an agreement signed in
2012, the Foundation presided over by Aliyev has funded the
restoration of the paintings of the cubicle of Susanna and the
fossor, the niche of Daniel, the arcosolium of Orpheus, the cubicle
of Our Lady with two Magi, and the cubicle of the praying matron. The
most advanced conservation techniques, especially laser-based
cleaning, have enabled the removal of a tenacious black patina that
had provided resistant to all traditional cleaning methods. The last
procedure, recently completed, involved the cubicle of the "praying
matron", in an advanced state of deterioration. The
newly-revealed frescoes consist of a central medallion with the Good
Shepherd surrounded by the Biblical episodes of Jonah, Daniel among
the lions and Noah in the Ark. In the corners there are praying male
figures and birds. On the walls there is a rich decorative pattern
with floral, plant-based and fantasy elements. On the wall of the
entrance there is the notable figure of a praying woman, which
although only just recognisable before restoration, now makes a
strong visual impact. The figure, framed by two slender trees, may
represent the deceased entombed in the cubicle.

During the presentation, which took
place at the Pontifical Council for Culture, Cardinal Ravasi and the
president of the HAF announced that their collaboration will continue
and its next objective will be the restoration of the monumental
complex of St. Sebastian Outside-the-Walls on the Via Appia Antica,
currently only partially open to the public. The agreement relates to
an extraordinary collection of sarcophagi, some situation in the
perimeter of the Basilica of St. Sebastian (Museum of Sculptures and
Epigraphic Museum), others "in situ" in their mausoleums.
The Pontifical Commission for Religious Art has proposed to the HAF a
conservation programme for the restoration of around fifteen
sarcophagi. Aliyeva expressed her appreciation of the proposal on
behalf of the Foundation, and a new agreement will be signed for the
financing of the restoration works to render the complex accessible
to the public.

Vatican City, 23 February 2016 (VIS) –
An international conference entitled "Love will never end.
Prospects ten years on from the Encyclical Deus caritas est"
will be held on Thursday 25 February in the Vatican's New Synod Hall.
Organised by the Pontifical Council "Cor Unum", the
conference forms part of the programme of events for the Jubilee of
Mercy and has the aim of examining in depth the theological and
pastoral implications of Pope Benedict XVI's first Encyclical for
today's world, especially in relation to the activity of those who
work in the Church's charitable service. The event will be attended
by, among others, representatives of the episcopal conferences and
Catholic charitable organisations from all over the world.

The conference will begin with
greetings from Msgr. Giampietro Dal Toso, secretary of the "Cor
Unum", followed by an intervention from Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig
Muller, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith,
entitled "The Encyclical Deus caritas est: a theological
reading". The subsequent speakers will be Michel Thio, president
of the International Confederation of St. Vincent de Paul, Marina
Almeida Costa, director of Caritas Cabo Verde, and Roy Moussali,
executive director of the Syrian Society for Social Development. In
the afternoon the theme of the meaning of love for the three
monotheistic religions will be considered by Rabbi David Shlomo
Rosen, director of the Department of Religious Affairs of the
American Jewish Committee of Jerusalem, Professor Saeed Ahmed Khan,
lecturer at the Wayne State University of Detroit, U.S.A., and the
philosopher Fabrice Hadjadj, director of the Institut Philanthropos
of the University of Fribourg, Switzerland.

The second day will begin with a
presentation from Cardinal Luis Antonio G. Tagle, archbishop of
Manila, Philippines and president of Caritas Internationalis,
entitled "The importance of Deus caritas est for the charitable
service of the Church today", followed by interventions from
Alejandro Marius, president of the Asociacion Civil Trabajo y
Persona, Venezuela, and Eduardo M. Almeida, representative in
Paraguay of the Inter-American Bank. At midday the participants will
be received in audience by Pope Francis in the Apostolic Palace. The
afternoon session will open with contributions from Rev. Professor
Paolo Asolan, lecturer at the Pontifical Lateran University, Rome,
and Professor Rainer Gehrig, lecturer at the Catholic University of
Murcia, Spain.

The morning sessions will be moderated
by Martina Pastorelli, president of Catholic Voices Italia, and the
afternoon sessions by Professor Luca Tuninetti, lecturer at the
Pontifical Urbanian University, Rome.

Holy Mass will be celebrated on 25 and
26 February at 6 p.m. in the Church of Santa Maria della Pietà in
Camposanto dei Teutonici (Our Lady of Mercy in the German Cemetery).
On the first day Cardinal Paul Josef Cordes, president emeritus of
"Cor Unum"; will preside, and on the second, Cardinal
Robert Sarah, prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the
Discipline of the Sacraments.

The conference will be fully broadcast
by web streaming on the Pontifical Council "Cor Unum"
website, at www.corunumjubilaeum.va .

Monday, February 22, 2016

Vatican City, 22 February 2016 (VIS) –
At 10.30 a.m. today, the Solemnity of the Chair of St. Peter the
Apostle, the Holy Father presided at a Holy Mass celebrated in the
Vatican Basilica for the Jubilee of the Roman Curia, the Governorate
and the Institutions of the Holy See. All the participants, including
the Pope, then carried out a procession of faith from the Paul VI
Hall to the Basilica, passing through the Holy Door.

"At this time, the Lord Jesus
addresses a question to every one of us: 'But who do you say that I
am?'. A clear and direct question, from which it is not possible to
escape or remain neutral, nor is it possible to postpone the answer
or delegate it to someone else. But there is nothing inquisitional
about this; instead, it is full of love! The love of our only Master,
Who today calls us to renew our faith in Him, recognising Him as the
Son of God and the Lord of our life. And the first one called to
renew his profession of faith is the Successor of Peter, who bears
the responsibility of confirming his brothers".

"Let us allow grace to form again
our heart so as to believe, and open our mouth to fulfil the
profession of faith and obtain salvation. Let us, then, make Peter's
words our own: 'You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God'. May
our thought and our gaze be fixed on Jesus Christ, the beginning and
end of every action of the Church. He is the foundation and no-one
may lay another. He is the 'stone' on which we must build. St.
Augustine recalls this with expressive words when he writes that the
Church, although agitated and disturbed by the upheavals of history,
does not fall down, because she is built on stone, from which Peter's
name is derived. It is not the stone that derives its name from
Peter, but Peter from the stone, just as it is not the name Christ
that derives from Christian, but Christian from Christ. The stone is
Christ, the foundation on which Peter too was built".

Francis emphasised that "from this
profession of faith there derives, for each one of us, the task of
responding to this call from God. Pastors, first and foremost, are
required to have as a model God Himself Who takes care of His flock.
… It is also good for us, called to be Pastors in the Church, to
let the face of God the Good Shepherd illuminate us, purify us,
transform us and restore us, fully renewed in our mission. In our
workplaces too may we feel, cultivate and practice a strong pastoral
sense, especially towards the people we encounter every day. May
no-one feel neglected or mistreated, but may everyone be able to
experience, especially here, the loving care of the Good Shepherd".

"We are called upon to be God's
collaborators in a task as fundamental and unique as bearing witness
by our existence the strength of the grace that transforms and the
power of the Spirit that renews. Let us allow the Lord to free us
from every temptation that distances us from the essence of our
mission, and let us rediscover the beauty of professing our faith in
the Lord Jesus. Faith to the ministry matches well with the mercy we
wish to experience. In the Sacred Scripture, indeed, faithfulness and
mercy are inseparable. Where there is one there is the other, and it
is precisely in their reciprocal nature and complementarity that we
can see the very presence of the Good Shepherd. The faithfulness that
is required of us is that of acting in accordance with Christ's
heart. As we have heard in the words of the apostle Peter, we must
tend to our flock with a generous heart and become a model for all.
In this way, 'when the Chief Shepherd appears', we will be able to
receive 'the crown of glory that will never fade away'".

Vatican City, 21 February 2016 (VIS) –
Pope Francis described his trip to Mexico as "an experience of
transfiguration" in his reflection before this Sunday's Angelus.
Starting from the Gospel reading of this second Sunday of Lent,
dedicated to the Transfiguration of Jesus on Mount Tabor, the Holy
Father spoke about his visit to the land of the Virgin of Guadalupe.

In Mexico, he said "the Lord has
shown us the light of His glory through the Body of the Church, of
His holy people that live in this land — a body so often wounded, a
people so often oppressed and despised, whose dignity is violated. In
fact, the various encounters experienced in Mexico were truly full of
light: the light of a faith that transfigures faces and illumines our
path".

"The spiritual 'centre of gravity'
of my pilgrimage was the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe", he
added. "To remain in silence before the image of the Mother was
what suggested the trip to me. I thank God for giving me this
opportunity. I contemplated and let myself to be gazed upon by She
whose eyes hold the gaze of all of her children, the sorrows of
violence, kidnapping and murders, the violence against so many poor
people, against so many women. Guadalupe is the most visited Marian
sanctuary in the world. From all of America, people go to pray there
where the ‘Virgin Morenita’ appeared to the Indian St. Juan
Diego, giving rise to the evangelisation of the continent and its new
civilization, a fruit of encounter between diverse cultures".

"It is precisely this inheritance
that the Lord has entrusted to Mexico: to protect the wealth of
diversity, and at the same time, to manifest the harmony of a common
faith: a simple and robust faith, accompanied by a great force of
vitality and humanity", explained the Pope. "Like my
predecessors, I also went to confirm the Mexican people in their
faith, but at the same time to be confirmed. I have gathered fully
this gift so that it may be of benefit to the universal Church".

"A shining example of what I am
saying was given by families: Mexican families welcomed me with joy
as a messenger of Christ and pastor of the Church. But at the same
time, they gave me clear and strong witness of lived faith, of faith
that transfigures life, for the edification of all Christian families
in the world. The same may be said about the young, consecrated
persons, priests, workers and the imprisoned".

After giving thanks to the Virgin of
Guadalupe for this pilgrimage and acknowledging the contribution of
the civil and ecclesiastical authorities of Mexico and all those who
made the trip possible, Francis gave special praise to the Holy
Trinity for the encounter in Cuba with Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and
All Russia, a meeting that was greatly desired by previous popes.

"This event too is a prophetic
light of the Resurrection, which the world today needs more than
ever. May the Holy Mother of God continue to guide us in the path of
friendship and unity. Let us pray to the Virgin of Kazan, an icon of
whom was given to me by Patriarch Kirill".

Vatican City, 22 February 2016 (VIS) –
After today's Angelus prayer, Pope Francis spoke about the
international conference “For a World Without the Death Penalty,”
organised by the Sant’Egidio Community, which begins in Rome
tomorrow, and expressed his hope that it may inspire fresh efforts
towards the abolition of the death penalty.

The Pope observed that the increasingly
strong public opposition to the death penalty, even as an instrument
of legitimate social defence, is a sign of hope. "Indeed, modern
societies are able to effectively control crime without definitively
removing from the criminal the possibility of redeeming himself. The
issue lies in the context of a perspective on penal justice that
increasingly conforms to the dignity of man and God’s design for
man and for society. And also penal justice open to the hope of being
reintegrated in society. The command “thou shalt not kill” has
absolute value and refers to the guilty as well as the innocent.

"The Extraordinary Jubilee of
Mercy is a good opportunity to promote in the world an increasingly
mature respect for life and the dignity of each person. Because even
a criminal has the inviolable right to life, a gift of God. I appeal
to the consciences of those who govern, so that an international
consensus may be reached for the abolition of the death penalty. I
propose to those among them who are Catholic to make an exemplary
gesture of courage: that the death penalty not be applied in this
Holy Year of Mercy".

"All Christians and men and women
of good will are called today to work not only for the abolition of
the death penalty, but also to improve conditions in prisons, in
respect for human dignity and the dignity of those deprived of
freedom".

The Pope also mentioned next Thursday's
Via Crucis through the streets of Rome, organised by the Pope Juan
XXIII Foundation, founded by the priest Oreste Benzi, in support of
women who are victims of human trafficking, and to pray for them.

Before concluding the Pope reiterated
that Lent is a good time to undertake a path of conversion, based on
mercy. "For this, I have decided to give to you here in the
Square a 'spiritual medicine' called 'Misericordina'. We did this
once before, but this one is better, it is 'Misericordina-Plus': a
box with a rosary and an image of the Merciful Jesus. Volunteers,
including the poor, the homeless, refugees and also religious, will
now distribute them. Receive this gift as a spiritual aid to help
spread forgiveness and fraternity, especially in this year of mercy".

Vatican City, 20 February 2016 (VIS) –
This morning fifty thousand people attended the Holy Father's Jubilee
audience in St. Peter's Square, following his return on Thursday from
his apostolic trip in Mexico. The Pope's catechesis was on the theme
of the commitment Christians are called to make to offer a concrete
sign of God's closeness to the people they encounter.

"The Jubilee of Mercy is an
opportunity to enter in depth into the mystery of God's goodness and
love", he said. "In this Lenten time, the Church invites us
to get to know better the Lord Jesus, and to live faith in a way
coherent with a lifestyle that expresses the Father's mercy. My life,
my attitude, my way of going about the world must be a concrete sign
of the fact that God is close to us. Little gestures of love, of
tenderness, of attention, that let us think that the Lord is with us,
close to us. In this way we open the door of mercy".

For this, it is necessary to be
committed, and this means assuming a responsibility, a task in
relation to someone, and fulfilling it with fidelity, dedication and
care. "Every day we are asked to commit ourselves to the things
we do: in prayer, in work, in study, even in sport. … In short,
committing oneself means acting with good will and effort to improve
life", explained the Pope.

"God too has committed Himself to
us", he continued. "His first commitment was that of
creating the world, and despite our attempts to spoil it, He is
committed to keeping it alive. But His greatest commitment was that
of giving Jesus to us. … St. Paul recalls this when he writes that
God 'did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all'.And, by
virtue of this, together with Jesus the Father will give us
everything we need".

In the Gospel it is very easy to see
how God's commitment to us is made manifest. "In Jesus, God
commits Himself fully in order to restore hope to the poor, to those
who are deprived of their dignity, to outsiders, the sick, the
imprisoned, and to sinners who welcome Him with good will. In all of
this, Jesus was the living expression of the Father's mercy".
Francis highlighted the fact that Jesus' welcome to sinners: "if
we think of it in a human way, the sinner would be an enemy of Jesus,
an enemy of God, but He drew close to them with goodness, He loved
them and He changed their heart. We are all sinners, all of us. We
all have some blame before God. But we must not be distrustful: He
draws close to us to offer us consolation, mercy and forgiveness.
This is God's commitment, and this is why He sent Jesus to us, to be
close to us, to all of us, and to open the door of His love, His
heart and His mercy".

Taking as a starting point the merciful
love with which Jesus expressed God's commitment, we too can and must
match His love with our effort, especially in the situations of
greatest need, when there is the greatest thirst for hope. I think of
our efforts with abandoned people, with those who have very serious
disabilities, with the gravely ill, with the dying, and with those
who are no longer able to express their gratitude. … We bring God's
mercy to all these situations through commitment in life, which bears
witness to our faith in Jesus. We must always bring with us this
caress from God – because God has caressed us with His mercy – to
those who are in need of it, to those who have suffering in their
heart or who are sad. We must approach them with that caress from
God, which is the same one God gave to us".

Francis concluded his catechesis by
expressing his hope that the Jubilee may contribute to helping our
mind and our heart to be profoundly aware of God's commitment to each
one of us, and in this way, transform our life in a commitment to
mercy for all.

Vatican City, 22 February 2016 (VIS) –
The Secretariat for Communications today issued the following
communique:

"Due to the end of the term of
service at Vatican Radio of the Director General Fr. Federico
Lombardi and the Managing Director Alberto Gasbarri, the prefect for
the Secretariat for Communications, Msgr. Dario Vigano, upon
directions from the Secretariat of State, has appointed Giacomo
Ghisani as "ad interim" legal representative and head of
the Directorate of Vatican Radio, responsible for the day-to-day
management of Vatican Radio in the context of the current
restructuring of Vatican communications".

In an explanatory note, it is mentioned
that by the Motu Proprio "The current communications context",
dated 27 June 2015, Pope Francis instituted the Secretariat for
Communications to integrate all the entities hitherto concerned with
communication into a new dicastery of the Roman Curia. These
structures were the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, the
Holy See Press Office, the Vatican Internet Service, the Vatican
Television Centre, L'Osservatore Romano, the Vatican Typography, the
Photographic Service and the Vatican Publishing House.

On 9 June of the same year, a
feasibility study and working calendar were presented to the Council
of Cardinals (the so-called C9), indicating the gradual process of
unification of the existing entities; "such bodies", it
specifies, "from the date of the publication of the present Motu
Proprio, shall continue their respective duties, observing however
the indications provided by the Secretariat for Communications".

The process has begun, and on 1 January
2016 the Pontifical Council for Social Communications and the Holy
See Press Office were unified, from an administrative and management
point of view. Nothing has been modified with regard to the
competence of the Secretariat of State in relation to institutional
communication.

This year, in accordance with the
presented and approved time scale, the complex but certainly positive
unification of Vatican Radio and the Vatican Television Centre was
expected to take place. This was implemented for some services (such
as the distribution of sound and images for papal ceremonies and
other important Vatican events), and for the better deployment of
human resources.

In this context it is clear why at the
end of February, at the end of their respective five-year mandates
and the upcoming retirements of two senior figures, the Director
General Fr. Federico Lombardi and the Managing Director Alberto
Gasbarri, they will not be substituted with figures in similar
directing roles. Instead a legal representative and and head of the
administrative office will be appointed, in the single person of
Giacomo Ghisani, currently deputy director of the General Directorate
of the Secretariat for Communications, who has an excellent knowledge
of Vatican Radio having worked there for many years as head of the
legal and international relations office.

The restructuring process will be
accompanied by the formulation of new Statutes not only for the
Dicastery but also the connected body that will ensure legal
representation both in institutional contexts and at European and
international level. The new Statutes will also reformulate the
staffing plans of the unified bodies.

"The task that awaits us offers a
great opportunity to evaluate in both entities the areas of
excellence and our patrimony of multilingualism and
multiculturalism", the note says.

"In this phase, the Vatican
Television Centre will continue to refer to Stefano D'Agostini for
the purposes of ordinary administration. The staff of Vatican Radio
will refer to Giacomo Ghisani for administrative matters and to Fr.
Andrzej Majewski for editorial activities and the situation of the
various language versions (that is, the current Directorate of
Programming). Technological matters, including acquisitions and the
development of projects (the activity and competence of the current
Technical Directorate) it will refer to Sandro Piervenanzi.

The Secretariat for Communications will
follow this process with care and attention, to facilitate solutions
to eventual difficulties and to guarantee its success.

On Friday, 19 February the Holy Father
received in audience Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, president of the
Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, accompanied by Bishop
Miguel Angel Ayuso Guixot, M.C.C.J., secretary of the same dicastery.

Vatican City, 22 February 2016 (VIS) –
The Holy Father has appointed Fr. Angel Antonio Recinos Lemus as
bishop of Zacapa y Santo Cristo de Esquipulas (area 5,066. population
613,000, Catholics 528,000, priests 32, permanent deacons 1,
religious 68), Guatemala. The bishop-elect was born in Azulco,
Guatemala in 1963 and was ordained a priest in 1994. He holds a
licentiate in biblical theology from the Pontifical Gregorian
University, Rome, and has served in a number of academic,
administrative and pastoral roles, including seminary professor,
director of the Institute of Theology of the National Seminary, head
of pastoral ministry of indigenous peoples, representative of
Guatemale in the information network of the Church in Latin America,
co-ordinator of the pastoral commission for the defence of the
environment, and parish priest in various parishes. He is currently
parish priest of Nuestra Senora de Lourdes and in El Progreso
Achuapa, Jutiapa.

Friday, February 19, 2016

Vatican City, 19 February 2016 (VIS) –
As is customary in his apostolic trips, the Pope answered questions
posed by journalists during the return flight to Rome, on his visit
to Mexico and his encounter in Havana, Cuba with the Patriarch
Kirill. The Holy Father addressed a series of themes that ranged from
his Mexican experience to the problem of paedophilia, immigration to
the European situation, as well as the repercussions of the document
signed with the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, the law on civil
unions and the various problems linked to the family. He also
expressed his hope to meet with Imam of the Mosque of Al-Azhar and
revealed that he would like to visit China.

The following is a summary of the
questions asked by journalists and the replies given by the Pope:

Question: "Holy Father, thousands
of people are missing in Mexico, but the case of the Ayotzinapa 43 is
emblematic. I would like to ask you why you did not meet with their
families and also if you could offer a message to the families of the
thousands of missing persons".

Pope Francis: "My messages make
continual reference to assassinations, deaths, and lives taken by all
these bands of drug traffickers, and by traffickers of human beings.
I spoke about these problems as one of the wounds from which Mexico
suffers. There have been some attempts to receive people, and there
were many groups, even opposed to each other, with internal battles.
Therefore I preferred to say that at the Mass I would have seen
everyone, in the Mass at Juarez if they preferred, or at another, but
I was open to this eventuality. It was practically impossible to
receive all the groups who, on the other hand, were opposed to each
other. It is a difficult situation to understand clearly, for me, as
a foreigner. But I believe that Mexican society is a victim of this:
of crimes, of this tendency to make people disappear, to discard
them. I spoke about this in my discourses where I could. It is a
great source of pain that I bear, as this people does not deserve to
experience a tragedy like this".

Question: "The theme of
paedophilia, as you know, has very dangerous and painful roots in
Mexico. The case of Fr. Maciel has left important scars, especially
for the victims. The victims continue to feel that they are not
protected by the Church. ...What do you think about this idea that
when priests are discovered in a case of this nature, they are to be
moved to another parish, and nothing else. How do you regard this
matter?".

Pope Francis: "A bishop who moves
a priest to a different parish if he detects a case of paedophilia is
without conscience and the best thing for him to do would be to
resign. Secondly, I would like to return to the Maciel case. Here I
would like to render homage to a man who battled in a moment in which
he did not have the strength to impose himself, to the point of being
able to do so: Cardinal Ratzinger, a man who had all the
documentation. When he was prefect of the Congregation for the
Doctrine of the Faith he had all the documentation in his hands, he
carried out investigations … but was not able continue up to the
end. But if you remember, ten days before St. John Paul II died, that
Good Friday Via Crucis, he said to all the Church that it was
necessary to clean up all the 'filth' in the Church. In the Mass Pro
Eligendo Pontifice – he was no fool, he knew he was a candidate –
he did not try to conceal his position, he said exactly the same
thing. That is, he was the courageous man who helped greatly to open
this door. Thirdly, we are working hard. With the Cardinal Secretary
of State, in discussion, and also with the group of nine cardinal
counsellors, I decided to appoint a third secretariat adjunct to the
Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which is occupied
exclusively with these cases, because the Congregation is unable to
manage them with all it has to do, and therefore this secretariat
knows how to manage this. Further more, the Court of Appeal was
constituted, presided over by Msgr. Scicluna, which is dealing with
the cases of second instance, on appeal. … Another thing that is
working very well is the Commission for the Protection of Minors. …
With regard to Maciel, returning to the Congregation, action has been
taken and now the Congregation, the governance of the Congregation is
semi-commissioned, or rather the superior general is elected by the
Council, by the General Chapter, but the Vicar is chosen by the Pope.
Two general counsellors are elected by the General Chapter and the
other two are chosen by the Pope, so that we are able to help them to
review old accounts".

Question: "You spoke very
eloquently about the problems of immigrants. On the other side of the
border, however, there is a rather tough electoral campaign in
progress. One of the candidates to the White House, the Republican
Donald Trump, recently said in an interview that His Holiness is a
man of politics or indeed even a pawn in the hands of the Mexican
government to favour a policy of immigration. He has declared that,
if elected, he intends to construct a 2,500 kilometre wall along the
border between Mexico and the United States, and to deport eleven
million illegal immigrants, thus separating families, and so on. I
would like to ask, first of all, what you think of these accusations
and whether an American Catholic can vote for such a person".

Pope Francis: "I thank God that he
has said I am a politician, as Aristotle defined the human being as
an 'animal politicus': at least I am a human being! And that I am a
pawn … perhaps, I do not know. I will leave that to your judgement,
to the people. A person who thinks only of building walls, wherever
that may be, and not bridges, is not Christian. This is not in the
Gospel. With regard to what I would advise, to vote or not to vote: I
would not like to become involved. I would say only that this man is
not Christian. It is necessary to see if he has said these things,
and for this reason I would give the benefit of the doubt".

Question: "The encounter with the
Russian patriarch Kirill and the signing of the Joint Declaration was
acclaimed throughout the world as an historic step. But now, already,
in Ukraine the Greek Catholics feel betrayed and speak about a
'political document', supporting Russian policy. On the ground, the
war of words has broken out again".

Pope Francis: "It is as document
that is open to discussion. I would also add that Ukraine is a
country that is going through a time of war, of suffering, with many
interpretations. I have mentioned the Ukrainian people asking many
times for prayers and closeness to them, both in the Angelus and in
the Wednesday general audiences. But the historical fact of a war –
everyone has their own idea: what is this war? Who started it? What
must be done? What must not be done? It is clear that this is an
historic problem, but also an existential problem for the country,
and it speaks of suffering. And it is in this context that I insert
this paragraph, and what the faithful say can be understood. [In an
interview] the Ukrainian Catholic archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk said
that many faithful had called or written to him saying they felt
profoundly disappointed or betrayed by Rome. It is understandable
that a people in that situation feels this way. The document is
debatable on this question of Ukraine, but there it is said that the
war is to stop and the conflict is to be managed through agreements.
I too have personally expressed my hope that the Minsk Accords go
ahead, and that what is written with the hand is not cancelled out
with the elbow. The Church of Rome and the Pope have always said,
'seek peace'".

Question: "The Italian parliament
is discussing the law on civil unions, an issue that is giving rise
not only to major political conflicts, but also to fierce debate in
society and among Catholics".

Pope Francis: "Firstly I do not
know how things are in the Italian parliament. The Pope does not get
involved in Italian politics. At the first meeting I had with the
Italian bishops in May 2013, one of the three things I said was: with
the Italian government you are on your own. The Pope is for everybody
and he cannot get involved in the specific internal politics of a
country. This is not the role of the Pope. What I think is what the
Church thinks and has so often said – because this is not the first
country to have this experience, there are so many – I think what
the Church has always said about this".

Question: "For several weeks there
has been great concern in many Latin American countries, and also in
Europe, regarding the Zika virus. The greatest risk would be for
pregnant women. Some authorities have proposed abortion, or avoiding
pregnancy. With regard to avoiding pregnancy, on this issue, can the
Church take into consideration the concept of 'the lesser of two
evils?'"

Pope Francis: "Abortion is not the
lesser of two evils. It is a crime, an absolute evil. On the ‘lesser
evil,’ avoiding pregnancy, we speak in terms of a conflict between
the fifth and sixth commandments. Paul VI, a great man, in a
difficult situation in Africa, permitted nuns to use contraceptives
in cases of rape. Do not confuse the evil of avoiding pregnancy by
itself, with abortion. … On the other hand, avoiding pregnancy is
not an absolute evil. In certain cases, as in this one, or in the one
I mentioned of Blessed Paul VI, it was clear. I also urge doctors to
do their utmost to find vaccines against … this disease. Work needs
to be done on this".

Question: "You will soon receive
the Charlemagne Prize, one of the most prestigious awards in the
European Community. … Do you have a word for us in this situation
of crisis in Europe?"

Pope Francis: "First, about the
Charlemagne Prize. I had the habit of not accepting prizes or
honours, not out of humility, but because I do not like these things.
… But in this case, I would not say I was 'forced', but convinced
by the holy and theological stubbornness of Cardinal Kasper. … I
accepted and said 'yes, but in the Vatican'. And I offer it to
Europe, as a co-decoration for Europe, a prize so that Europe may do
as I said at Strasbourg; that it may no longer be 'grandmother
Europe' but 'mother Europe'. Secondly, reading the news the other day
about this crisis and so on … there was one word that I liked …
the 're-foundation' of the European Union. I thought of the great
fathers, but today where is there a Schuman, an Adenauer, the great
statesmen who after the war founded the European Union. I like this
idea of the re-foundation of the European Union, maybe it can be
done, because Europe – I do not say is unique, but it has a
strength, a culture, a history that cannot be lost, and we must do
everything so that the European Union has the strength and also the
inspiration to go forward".

Question: "Holy Father, you have
spoken much about families and the Year of Mercy in this trip. Some
wonder how a Church that claims to be merciful can forgive a murderer
more easily than someone who has divorced and remarried?"

Pope Francis: "On the family, two
synods have spoken. The Pope has spoken on this all year in the
Wednesday Catechisms. The question is true, you posed it very well.
The post-Synod document … reviews everything the Synod has said on
conflicts, wounded families and the pastoral (care) of wounded
families. It is one of our concerns. Another is the preparation for
marriage. … Preparation for marriage is very important. ... I
believe it is something that in the Church, in common pastoral
ministry, at least in my country, in South America, the Church has
not valued much. For example, it does not happen so much now, but
some years ago in my homeland there was a habit, something called
‘casamiento de apuro', a marriage in haste because of an unplanned
pregnancy, to protect the honour of the family. There, the spouses
were not free and often this type of marriage is null. As a bishop I
forbade my priests to celebrate this type of marriage. … I would
say, let the baby come, let them continue as fiancées, and when they
feel like they can continue for the rest of their lives, then they
could go ahead. … Another very interesting chapter is the education
of children: the victims of family problems are the children. …
Another interesting thing from the meeting with families in Tuxtla –
there was a couple, married again in second union, and 'integrated'
in the pastoral ministry of the Church. The key phrase used by the
synod, which I’ll take up again, is to ‘integrate’ wounded
families, remarried couples and so on in the life of the Church. But
the children who in the middle must not be forgotten. They are the
primary victims, both of these wounds, and of conditions of poverty,
work, and so on".

Question: "Does that mean they can
receive Communion?"

Pope Francis: "This is the last
thing. Integrating in the Church does not mean receiving communion. …
It is a path towards integration, all doors are open, but we cannot
say, ‘from here on they can have communion.’ This would be an
injury also to marriage, to the couple, because it would not allow
them to proceed on this path of integration. And the couple in Tuxtla
were happy. They used a very beautiful expression: we do not receive
Eucharistic communion, but we receive communion when we visit
hospitals, in this service, and so forth. Their integration has
remained there. If there is something more, the Lord will tell them,
but it is a path, a road".

Question: "The media have referred
to the intense correspondence John Paul II and the American
philosopher, Ana Teresa Tymieniecka. … According to His Holiness,
can a Pope have such an intimate relationship with a woman?"

Pope Francis: "I would say that a
man who does not know how to have a relationship of friendship with a
woman … well, he is a man who is missing something. … A
friendship with a woman is not a sin. It is a friendship. … But the
Pope is a man. The Pope needs the input of women, too. And the Pope,
too, has a heart that can have a healthy, holy friendship with a
woman. There are saint-friends – Francis and Clare, Teresa and John
of the Cross. ... But women are still not well considered; we have
not understood the good a woman can do for the life of a priest and
of the church in the sense of counsel, help and healthy friendship".

Question: "On the topic of the law
that is being considered in the Italian parliament: it is a law that
in some ways is about other countries, because other countries have
laws about unions among people of the same sex. There is a document
from the Congregation for the Doctrine for the Faith from 2003 that
dedicates … a chapter to the position of Catholic parliamentarians
in relation this question. It says expressly that Catholic
parliamentarians must not vote for these laws. I wanted to ask, first
of all, is this document of 2003 still in effect? What is the
position a Catholic parliamentarian must take? Also, after Moscow,
Cairo: is there another 'thawing' on the horizon? I refer to the
audience His Holiness hopes for with the 'Pope of the Sunnis', if we
may call him thus: the Imam of Al Azhar".

Pope Francis: "On this second
issue, Msgr. Ayuso, secretary of the Pontifical Council for
Interreligious Dialogue presided by Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, went
to meet the deputy to the Imam, and to greet the Imam. … I want to
meet him. I know that he would like it. We are looking for a way,
always through Cardinal Tauran because that is the way. But we we
achieve this. Regarding the first theme: I do not remember that 2003
document from the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, but
every Catholic parliamentarian must vote according their well-formed
conscience. I would say only this. I think it is sufficient. … With
regard to persons of the same sex, I repeat what I said on the trip
to Rio di Janeiro. It is in the Catechism of the Catholic Church".

Question: "Thank you for this trip
to Mexico. … And we are already thinking about future trips. When
are you going to go to Argentina, where they have been waiting for
you for a long time? When will you return to Latin America, or will
you go to China?"

Pope Francis: "I would love to go
to China! ... I would like to say something just about the Mexican
people. It is a population that has a great wealth … a culture that
goes back millennia. … It is a people of great faith. They have
also suffered religious persecution. There are martyrs, and I will
now canonize two of them. It is a people that you cannot easily
explain, because the word ‘people’ is not a logical category,
it’s a mythical category. The Mexican people cannot be explained:
you cannot explain this wealth, this history, this joy, the capacity
to celebrate amid tragedy. … A nation that nevertheless still has
this vitality can be explained only by Guadalupe. And I invite you to
seriously study the facts of Guadalupe. The Madonna is there. I
cannot find another explanation. … There are good books that
explain it, that also explain the painting and its meaning. In this
way you can understand better this great and beautiful people".